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JEE Main 2020 (9 Jan, Shift 1) · Electric Flux & Gauss's Law

Electric Flux & Gauss's Law question from JEE Main 2020 (9 Jan, Shift 1)

Q98JEE Main 2020 · 9 JAN · SHIFT 1Difficult

Electric Flux & Gauss's Law

Consider a sphere of radius R which carries a uniform charge density ρ\rho. If a sphere of radius R2\frac{R}{2} is carved out of it, as shown, the ratio Figure of magnitude of electric field E⃗A\vec{E}_A and E⃗B\vec{E}_B, respectively, at points A and B due to the remaining portion is:

Figure

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Answer: (c)

  1. Treat the cavity as a full sphere of +ρ+\rho plus a small sphere of −ρ-\rho (radius R2\frac{R}{2}, centre R2\frac{R}{2} above O). A is at O, B is at distance RR below O.
  2. At A: big sphere gives 0 (centre); small sphere, A on its surface: ρ(R/2)3ε0\frac{\rho (R/2)}{3\varepsilon_0}. So EA=ρR6ε0E_A = \frac{\rho R}{6\varepsilon_0}.
  3. At B: big sphere gives ρR3ε0\frac{\rho R}{3\varepsilon_0}; small sphere, B at 3R2\frac{3R}{2} from its centre: ρ(R/2)33ε0(3R/2)2=ρR54ε0\frac{\rho (R/2)^3}{3\varepsilon_0 (3R/2)^2} = \frac{\rho R}{54\varepsilon_0}, opposite in direction.
  4. EB=ρR3ε0−ρR54ε0=17ρR54ε0E_B = \frac{\rho R}{3\varepsilon_0} - \frac{\rho R}{54\varepsilon_0} = \frac{17\rho R}{54\varepsilon_0}
  5. EAEB=1/617/54=917=1834\frac{E_A}{E_B} = \frac{1/6}{17/54} = \frac{9}{17} = \frac{18}{34}
  6. So the answer is (c) 1834\frac{18}{34}.
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